New Year Post – 2012

I’m interrupting the whole Eurotrip-ness to reflect on this past year.

Here we go- time to think about 2012

1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?
-ladies waaaahhh waaahhhh waaaaah (that’s the sound of a bad joke see?)
-traveled to Bruges, Amsterdam, Berlin, Dresden, Prague, Cesky Krumlov, Vienna, Grunau Im Almtal, Salzburg, Munich, Stuttgart, Bern, Lauterbrunnen, Lucerne, Innsbruck, Venice, Ancona, Rome, Siena, Florence, Cinque Terre, La Spezia, Nice, Orvieto, and all the places in between… so Belgium, Austria, The Netherlands, Italy, Czech Republic, Monaco, Switzerland, Germany, and Luxembourg.
-moved to Quebec, specifically Montreal
-saw a headline Tegan and Sara concert
-saw The Gossip
-got a horrible gig at a call center (to then realize it’s a great way to get paid to draw a comic shhh)
-got asked to be a bridesmaid by one of my dearest and oldest pals (so excited!!)
-got my tragus pierced on a friendship filled day :)
-got a tattoo
-got into a bit of debt (but this is a good thing as I needed to loosen the purse strings)

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I always make some – I always hit some targets and miss others, but I think it’s a good exercise to try anyway. So yes, more will indeed be made.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Loads!! This was the year of babeh!
Bevan and Paul had their wee Zachary
(Her brother and husband also were blessed with a wee one)
Melissa and Sly had wee Eleanor
There’s more, I know there’s more …

6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
Hmm extra time? The days were too short and I didn’t get a chance to accomplish anything much beyond travel- no reading, no drawing etc. I want to make time for these things this year.

7. What date(s) from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
-January 16th, meeting Roisin at Boda
-January 24th, my first date with Roisin … we’re kinda still on that date. Inseparable is an understatement
(Some really amazing hair cut days in here from Lucy via Roisin’s Sassoon introduction)
-April 20thish- visits with Scott and Kieron in Manchester and London for Roisin’s birthday
-June 22nd, last shift at Hula
-June 23rd, last day of my UK visa
-June 25th, depart to London beginning Eurotrip 2012
-September 3rd, end of Eurotrip 2012
-September 9th, flying back to Canada
-September 30th, arriving in Montreal
-December 16th, Tegan and Sara concert
-December 21st, longest delayed flight to Windsor

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I guess in a way seeing Nelson succeed- even from a distance I think there was some definite rejoicing/dancing on my part.
Fulfilling my own childhood wish/dream of traveling around Europe for several months.
As well, rolling up some of the doormat tendencies that I’ve gathered up over the years. Exchanging them for a lovely spine.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not necessarily failure- just shittey planning- not really finishing the full version of my Eurotrip, having to cut out Spain, Portugal and a good portion of France. Just a shame really, but I’ll likely revisit this in the next few years and maybe even revisit some of Germany ’cause I don’t think I can avoid it’s allure.
In some ways communication- but I feel comfortable with the effort that I put forward so…
Not staying in Toronto when I felt the slight inclination to do so- but that failure is turning into a new opportunity so no hard feelings Quebec we can work through this.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I did get a pretty decent scrape on my leg in Bern from swimming in The Aar.
Also bashed my head off of the overhead compartment on the plane headed to Windsor. Classy.
And I caught an awful cold in Innsbruck.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Eurotrip 2012!
New summer wardrobe from Primark.
My winter’s jacket, he’s cozy and he’s from Roots, tres swanky.
The steak that I just ate on New Year’s Eve.
And all the lovely art supplies I will be receiving shortly using the Christmas present funds from my Grandma O’Malley, my Uncle Mike and Aunt Cec.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Roisin Tuohy of course. Her dertermination and motivation to conquer all things musical be it her EP with Lewis or ameliorating her technique on guitar she’s achieved an unbelievable amount. She’s also grown personally- learning to trust herself more and perhaps starting to understand the greatness she does indeed possess.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and/or depressed?
Only thing I’ll moan about are some of the suckers on board the Busabout buses. Dear Poopers, try and think outside the box you selfish pricks.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Travel, Rent and Bills, bills, bills.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Seeing Tegan and Sara live eeeee!
Eurotrip!
Seeing my family again.
Seeing Scott for a few visits last year :D
My visit with Bevan in September- meeting wee Zachary!
The necklace that Roisin made me for my birthday.
CHRIMMAS!!

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
Happier I think- but I definitely wasn’t sad last year- just things are more solid. In a happy long term relationship, the future looking a bit more certain, I’m good.

ii. thinner or fatter?
Likely not as thin as last year, but I jog 5 times a week so I’m not too bothered.

iii. richer or poorer?
Poorer meh. This’ll all change in a few months anyway.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
I wish I’d read more, drawn more, traveled more, written more, adventured more, eaten more… there’s always more to do thus I’ll always feel like I need to do more of it.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worrying and whining. The Ws.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent my first proper Christmas with my family since 2008 *smug* and it was lovely and we ate everything and had SO MANY cuddles.

21. Did you fall in love in 2012?
Of course!

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Game of Thrones, True Blood, Brothers & Sisters, early seasons of Roseanne and watching Six Feet Under again… Community…

23. What was the best book you read?
Hmmm likely “Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky
I also enjoyed a lot of the theories presented in “Memory is my Name” by Ann Brashares… the love story itself kinda meh… but I liked the idea.
“On the Road” by Jack Kerouac. What a legend.
“An Illustrated Life” by Danny Gregory- I will now do the sketching all of the time.

24. What was your greatest musical discovery?
-Lianne La Havas she’s amazing!
-Bwani Junction
-is it tacky to say Roisin Tuohy?
-Hannah O’Reilly
There’s more but these are the most important.

25. What did you want and get?
To do all the traveling.
To date a lady.

26. What did you want and not get?
A Spanish and Portuguese adventure :( boo

27. What was your favorite film of this year?
Hrrrmmm ummmm The Muppet Movie?
Part of Me- The Katy Perry movie… and no, I’m not joking.
The Help, Moneyball, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Warhorse hmmm

28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were ya?
I turned 28- woke up at my pal Brenden’s place, Roisin and I went out for breakfast at Cora’s, then we got some cake treats and returned to Brenden’s to watch UK X Factor and Home Alone 1 and 2. Pretty low key.

29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I guess having a bit more cash but no big, I like a challenge. Also if I could multiply time.

30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Short shorts with white Dr. Martens and black tights of course- topped with many a t-shirt or strange Primark tops. Many sundresses too. Big, cozy jumpers.

31. What kept you sane?
Some really stellar frienships, especially Mr. Scott and of course Roisin.

32. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Sally Field. She’s such a legend.
Rachel Griffiths
Danny Pudi and Donald Glover (ie. Abed and Troy) :D not in a saucy fancy way

33. Who did you miss?
My familia and now I miss Scotland. All of it. Scott and the Hula gang and the Pat Val gang…

34. Who was the best new person you met?
Roisin. Of course.
Also Hannah O’Reilly and Kieran (& the Jakil boys)
Lucy the hairdresser of glory! And Monika my favourite Polish lassie!
Erin and Tim from Busabout
Gordon Hogan as he is also a legend.
Grainne and Donal such amazing people

35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012?
Being nice isn’t the best thing to be.